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Monday, 1 July 2013

Over the weekend I met up with two fellows who I have
mentioned before. They valuate items for
auction houses –no, don’t ask as I can’t say but the big ones. They had been travelling around the UK observing
auctions and talking to collectors. I was asked if I was free to chat “because
you know more about these rare and obscure British comics of the 1930s-1950s”…After
flattery like that what could I say?

Here is the conclusion they made after a three week trip –D.C.
Thomson titles such as Beano and Dandy or certain Amalgamated Press (AP) titles of the 1930s to early 1950s: VERY much
sought after.

So I asked what sort of price they were estimating –apparently
the first issue of Beano or Dandy and there was no fixed financial price. “Idiots will pay ridiculous prices and for a
first issue of either of those…who knows!”

It seems that not even an Eagle first issue would command
the price of a first Beano or Dandy…yeah, I found that surprising.

Apparently, no AP title commanded anything similar. I rattled off a few titles –no. Nothing. What??
I asked what sort of price various titles might get. A first issue of Battle Weekly…£2-£4…..Action Weekly….£6.00
because of “notoriety” and one of the
men had privately auctioned off a full (first to last issue) run of Radio Fun
for £100 –his colleague laughed at this and pointed out that auction houses had
refused to sell that particular run because there “was no interest”.

Most weekly UK
comics from the 1930s-1980s were valued at between £1 to £4 (“loony price”) but
the Beano and Dandy’s could go as far as £5-£6 each because of “potty
collectors”.

I pointed out ebay prices and got two very loud howls of
derision: “If you pay more than £4 for any UK weekly you are absolutely mad –and
no one sane pays the fixed prices asked for on ebay!” It was pointed out that one of my 1980s zines
had sold on ebay in May for £25 –I can’t even sell these old books at their
original price but it was called “rare” and “highly sought after”….what
*******!

So we came to why I was contacted –comics from Swann,
Fouldes, Comic Art Productions and so on. I was asked what sort of prices I had
heard these comics going for? I pointed
out that finding them for sale tended to be rare and I thought I was now going to be told they
were worth a fortune.

I was kidding myself.

Both had copies of Gifford’s 1980s UK comics guide
which included price estimates if you wanted to buy those books now. Prepare for a major shock –apparently my jaw
dropped and I looked “quite pale”!

It seems there was really no increased value to the books
since Gifford wrote the guide. I pointed out the rarity of certain titles and
suggested they must be more valuable now?

No.

“We are not talking American Golden Age comic titles here –we
are talking British, mass and very cheaply produced comics with quite poor
printing and paper a tramp would not put in his boot” To which I tried to counter with various
points. Even as I made those points I could see the problems.

No one has a vested interest in obscure characters. Or as one of the men put it: “Often badly
drawn and one dimensional characters” that, it seems, do not compare in any way
to the glories of Eggo, Desperate Dan, Lord Snooty, etc.. “Most auction houses will not even consider
selling single issues or even collections because their commissions are usually
more than the comics make” –the usual commission being around 17% I was told.

I was told of an old tea chest (which are big) that was full
of Swan comics –all wrapped in grease proof bags (nostalgia there!). Approximately 100 comics plus a few from other
publishers. The owner had died and the
house contents were sold but not the box of comics that were, apparently,
advertised online but got no interest. Rather than cart the box to storage it
was dumped at the back of the auction room by the bins.

DUMPED BY THE BINS??!!!

Another set of 1940s comics had been used by one auction
house to wrap fragile purchases to send to people in the US and Europe.

I pointed out here, VERY quickly, that if they put the word
around I would certainly buy any boxes or comics that were of “no real interest
or value” but was told for single issues it was doubtful anyone would contact
me –postage would probably cost more than the comic itself. Collections –“It just isn’t worth the auction
house’s time” BUT they did promise to pass on my details.

Of course, this lack of interest might explain why group membership
numbers (British Comic Book Archives) have not increased and why no one seems
that…interested.

This was all depressing.

So, you see high prices for any books on ebay…remember
anything over £4.00 is a “rip-off”

Well, I’ll still look out for Krakos The Egyptian or The Bat…and
I’ll still accept scans of books. I like them any way!!

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About Me

THE UKs LARGEST INDEPENDENT COMICS PUBLISHER
Between 1984-1994 I worked freelance as a writer/artist/editor/agent in comics as well as comics journalism for MU Press,Blue Comet Press,Fantagraphic Books,Eros Comics,Dorne,Fleetway,IPC and others in the United States,UK and Europe. During this period I also produced large numbers of single panel gag cartoons for agencies in Germany such as Boiselle-Lohmann and Baaske Agency –these going to magazines and publications around Europe. I also worked as a freelance editor in comics and publications ranging from wildlife,astronomy and science fiction magazines.
From 1984 to present I've been self publishing comics as well as publications on a wide variety of subjects under the Black Tower banner.
I have also produced packages of work for companies in India,Hong Kong and China. I have also been working as an industry advisor for smaller companies in countries such as India,Canada,Singapore,China,Europe and the US. hoopercomicsuk@yahoo.com